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Two Safes With 25 Kg Of Gold Stolen From Bucharest Shopping Center

Two safes containing about 25 kilograms of gold were stolen Wednesday night from two stores in a shopping center in Romania’s capital Bucharest, three weeks after police warned store owners had inefficient protection systems.

Romanian Dacia New Registrations Up 11.8% On French Mkt In November

Registrations of Romanian new Dacia cars in France increased 11.8% on the year in November, to 8,223 units, on a market that shrunk 10.8%.

More Than 2,000 People Attending Romanian National Holiday Parade In Bucharest

More than 2,000 people are attending Romania's National Holiday Parade in Bucharest, held every year at the Arch of Triumph.

Romanian Authorities To Consider Reducing Social Contributions Mid-2011 – Minister

Romanian authorities will consider reducing social security contributions in mid-2011, in order to cut workforce costs, which are higher compared to other countries, Finance Minister Gheorghe Ialomitianu told Pro TV in an interview Tuesday.

Romanian Labor Min Proposes Alternative Measures To Previous Maternity Leave Proposition

Romanian Labor Minister Ioan Botis Tuesday presented ruling democrat liberal lawmakers with three alternative measures to a previous proposition he made regarding maternity leave, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

Bucharest Apartment Prices Fall 15% In 2010 – Survey

The sale prices of apartments in Romania’s capital city Bucharest dropped 15% in average in 2010, and will continue to fall next year, according to a survey conducted by real estate website imopedia.ro.

Romania’s EU Fund Absorption This Yr Unlikely To Exceed 2009 Level – Ctrl Bker

Romania’s European fund absorption in 2010 will be lower than the level registered last year, only exceeding it in agriculture, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Tuesday.

Romanian Lower House Committee Sets Retirement Age To 63 For Women, 65 For Men

The Romanian Chamber of Deputies' committee for labor on Tuesday adopted an amendment setting the retirement age to 63 for women and 65 for men, approving President Traian Basescu's request for the pension bill's re-examination.

Hungarian Minority Party Frowns On Reducing Maternity Leave To 1 Yr, Calls For Alternatives

The Hungarian minority party UDMR, part of Romania’s ruling coalition, disagrees with reducing the maternity leave to one year, from the current two years, adding it will ask the coalition Thursday to find other solutions, said executive vice-president Laszlo Borbely.

President Traian Basescu Goes To Afghanistan To Meet With Romanian Troops

Romanian President Traian Basescu, Defense Minister Gabriel Oprea and U.S. Ambassador to Romania Mark Gitenstein arrived in Afghanistan Tuesday to meet with the Romanian troops deployed in the area.

EXCLUSIVE: Amended Romanian Labor Code Disallows Contract Suspension As Punishment

The draft act amending Romania's Labor Code repeals a provision whereby employee disciplinary infractions can be punished by suspending the individual work contract for up to 10 business days.

EXCLUSIVE: Amended Romanian Labor Code Keeps 48-Hour Workweek

The maximum length of Romania's workweek will be kept at 48 hours, but the period of reference according to which working hours can be added will be extended by one month, to four months, says the draft act amending the Labor Code, obtained by MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Definite-Period Individual Work Contract To Run For Three Yrs – Draft

A draft act amending Romania’s Labor Code states that individual work contracts will run for three years instead of two and they can be extended after termination under certain conditions.

Romanian Govt To Seek Confidence Vote On Public Sector Wage Bills On December 14

Romania's Government on December 14 will seek a vote of confidence in Parliament on the public sector unitary wage bill and on the bill regarding public sector salaries in 2011, Senate quaestor Ioan Chelaru announced Monday.

EXCLUSIVE: Amended Romanian Labor Code Requires Earlier Notice Of Resignation

Employees have to give at least 20 business days prior notice when resigning, or 45 days if they hold a management position, says the draft act amending Romania's Labor Code, obtained by MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Parliament Sends Education Bill Back To Govt

The Romanian Parliament’s Standing Bureaus decided Monday to send the education bill back to the Government, as well at its request for a vote of confidence to pass the bill into legislation, said social democrat deputy Mircea Dusa.

EXCLUSIVE: Amended Romanian Labor Code Lengthens Employment Trial Period

The trial period for new employees will be extended and the labor contract may be terminated without notice during that time, or at the end of the period, says the draft amending Romania's Labor Code, obtained by MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Opp Liberals Decide To Attend Parliament Plenary Meetings Debating Key Bills

The Romanian opposition Liberal Party decided Monday that liberal lawmakers will participate in all Parliament plenary meetings which will debate major public interest bills, such as the education bill, the unitary wage bill and the draft state budget law for 2011.

Opp Leader Says 2011 Draft Budget Prevents Romania From Meeting NATO Commitments

Romanian opposition Social Democratic Party president Victor Ponta said Monday that Romania will not be able to meet its commitments as NATO member state if the draft state budget for 2011 is adopted in the form proposed by the Government.

ING: Romania Likely To Miss 2011 Deficit Target

Romania has set “ambitious” targets for its 2011 budget, but chances are the government will miss its deficit cap of 4.4% of gross domestic product, because of weaker-than-expected economic performance.

Bucharest Dwelling Prices Deter Clients From Purchase – Coldwell

The price of homes in Bucharest remains high compared to demand expectations, limiting the number of real estate transactions, according to real estate consultancy company Coldwell Banker Affiliates of Romania.

Romanian Leu Opens Stronger Vs Euro, Recovers Previous Weakness

The Romanian leu opened Monday’s session slightly stronger against the euro, compared to Friday’s closing values, while dealers in the market suspect central bank intervention.

Romania Cos Expect Slight Decline In Industry, Retail In Nov-Jan

Romanian managers said they expect slight decreases in on the industrial and retail segments, a sharp drop in construction and relative stability in services between November 2010 and January 2011, the National Institute for Statistics, or INS, said Monday.

Romanian George Pistereanu Wins Best Actor Award At Stockholm Film Festival

Romanian 21-year-old actor George Pistereanu Saturday evening was awarded best actor at the Stockholm International Film Festival, for his leading role in "If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle", the debut feature film of director Florin Serban.

About Half Of Romanian Big, Medium Cos Submitted October Fiscal Statements Online

About 45% of Romanian big and medium companies submitted their October fiscal statements online by November 25, said the country’s fiscal authority ANAF.

Romania In No Danger Of Catastrophic Earthquake At Least Until 2030 – Earth Physics Institute

Romania might be shaken in the upcoming period by small earthquakes of magnitudes below seven degrees, which are not at all dangerous, said Gheorghe Marmureanu, head of the Romanian Institute for Earth Physics, adding there will be no catastrophic earthquake in Romania at least until 2030.

Bread Price In Romania To Hike Over 15% In February

The price of bread in Romania will increase by over 15% as of February, after a 10% hike over the past four months, driven by wheat imports, Aurel Popescu, head of the Rompan employers association in the bread industry, told MEDIAFAX Friday.

EXCLUSIVE: IMF Ready To Increase Aid To Romania If Need Arises

Romania is unlikely to experience significant spillover from European countries that face difficulties, as the authorities are taking steps to ensure against risks under the form of a new loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund, an IMF official said.

Romania Leu Widens Losses Vs Euro, Exch Rate Hits 5-Mo Low At 4.3137

Romania’s leu extended early losses against the euro in mid trade Friday and the central bank’s reference lost 0.3% on the day to 4.3137 units, the weakest rate since early July.

EXCLUSIVE: Romania Takes Significant Steps To Exit Crisis, IMF Says

Romania has taken important steps to reduce its budget deficit and bring the economy back on track, which puts the country in a less riskier position compared with some of the economies in the euro area, said Jeffrey Franks, head of the International Monetary Mission to Bucharest.

Romanian Police Salaries To Be Reduced By 4.5% In 2011 – Union

Salaries in Romanian police departments, cut by 25% in July, will be reduced by a further 4.5% next year, as the holiday bonus and yearly bonus will be eliminated, "Pro Lex" union president Vasile Lincu said Friday.

Romanian Banks Lack Trust To Resume Lending, Not Money – Ctrl Bker

Romanian lenders are ready to resume lending “right now,” as they have sufficient liquidity, but they lack confidence in the economy, a central bank official said Friday.

Romanian Mothers Who Return To Work Before End Of Maternity Leave May Get Extra RON500

Romanian mothers who return to work at any time before the end of the two-year maternity leave might receive an indemnity of 500 lei (EUR1=RON4.2996), Labor Minister Ioan Botis said Friday.

Romanian 2011 Economic Growth Closer To Zero – Ctrl Bker

Fiscal slippages and political uncertainty may keep Romanian economic growth closer to zero in 2011, despite official forecasts that point to an advance of 1.6%-2%, a central bank official said Thursday.

Romanian Govt Might Deny Aid To Unemployed People Who Turn Down A Job Offer Twice

People on unemployment who are counseled by an employment agency advisor and turn down a job offer twice will no longer receive aid, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Thursday.

Romanian Govt Might Withhold Subsidies, Levy Taxes On Owners Of Untilled Land

Romania's Government will withhold subsidies or levy higher taxes on uncultivated land, to determine owners to sell, rent, lease or work the land, Prime Minister Emil Boc said on Thursday.

Price Of Heating In Romania Up 10% On Year – Regulator

Heating in Romania will cost around 10% more this winter compared to last year, according to the prices announced by local authorities, but the new price is already in effect, having been increased after the VAT was set to 24%, from 19%.

Fmr Romanian Envoy To Singapore To Be Released From Prison

Former Romanian envoy to Singapore Silviu Ionescu will be released Thursday evening from prison, after the Court of Bucharest accepted his request for his arrest to be replaced with a ban on leaving the country.

Romanian Foreign Minister Found Guilty Of Discriminatory Statements Against Roma

Romania’s National Council Fighting Discrimination CNCD has found Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Baconschi guilty of discriminatory statements regarding Roma people and crimes involving Roma and gave him a warning, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Thursday.

Romania, UK, Netherlands To Cooperate For Constanta Port’s Development – Transport Min

Romanian Transport Minister Anca Boagiu met Thursday with the ambassadors of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands to talk about the port of Constanta, which Boagiu said could become Europe's second largest, after Rotterdam.